Still in BA

I was warned but i didn´t believe people when they said this city sucks you in. You need at least twice as long here as you think you are going to.

Ive changed my plans again. I didn´t go back with Bronwyn and the girls to Chile. Instead I decided to stay on here. Im staying in the apartment of a cool Dutch girl I met in Uashuia. All her friends are Argentinian so it has been really good for my Spanish but really bad for my English. After a month of talking to foreigners in hostels I find myself speaking Pigeon English. Its quite a challenge to construct a proper sentence these days.

Somehow (she knows people) we got a free meal last night in this really fancy restaurant that turns into a club. Its just as well, cause the vodkas cost 6 euros which is a complete rip off for here. We didn´t get very drunk with prices like that. We met some pro American basketball team on tour called the Harlem Globetrotters and partied the night away with the tallest men Ive ever seen. You couldn´t be dealing with the accent though.

More BA

Went to a wicked club. Got home circa 6am which is early for here.

Dragged myself out of bed to see a Boca football game which was incredible. All flares, banners, flags, confetti, screaming, drums, trumpets, dancing and singing. I loved every minute of it. Boca beat Jujuy 3/1 and all the goals were in the second half at my end.

Stayed in last night. The hostel had a live band on.

Buenas Aires

Got my red hair redone. It was totally manky- horrible orange colour, but its back to normal now looking very funky. I can tell its going to be expensive to maintain longterm.

Sat around the hostel in Cordoba watching movies all day waiting to get our night bus. Alpha Dog with Justin is excellent. It must have been a copy cause I dont even think that is out yet.

Couldnt sleep on the bus. The condensation from the window was streaming onto me like a waterfall and it was freezing. Arrived in Buenas Aires in a daze but our room wasnt ready so headed out to see some sights. Saw the pink palace where Evita spoke to the hoi polloi. We went to a big military exhibition and then to the races. Much nicer than Lepordstown. We broke even which wasnt bad. Was too wrecked to party with the girls last night so went to bed early ie 1.30am here, and finished my book.

Today spent the day walking around by myself. Got completely lost. This city is huge. The only thing that upsets me more than being late is being lost. Everyone loves BA, but Im not feeling it. Despite the hot boys, Im getting sick of the food. The only things to eat here are ham and cheese sandwiches or meat and potatoes. The city is filthy and noisy as well. Were going out to a big club tonight called Opera Bay so maybe after ive had a good night out here, Ill like it a bit more.

Cordoba

Its amazing how Ive become slack on the postings since meeting the girls!!

We are in Cordoba now. Yesterday visited some Jesuit churchs (Totally breathtaking), then took a 1hr bus ride out of the city to see the Che Guevara museum only to find out that it was closed for refurbishment. Damm. Went for a gorgeous meal last night while all the povers in our hostel cooked in and then met them in the pub. They gave us such a hard time about wasting money that today we relented and cooked a risotto (Thank you Sinead for the cookbook at Christmas. It was the only recipe I could remember). We had champagne and peaches for desert for the laugh just to piss them off.

I went skydiving today. It cost about 100 euro so a lot of money for here but a fraction of at home. I surprised myself my staying calm throughout. Ive got photos and a video and any day now Im going to work out how to upload them!!

Mendoza

Took a 24hr bus ride to Mendoza and finally met the girls. They were supposed to be on a wine tour when I arrived but luckily for me they had been on the piss the night before so were still there when I arrived at lunchtime. We headed out by bike to see the bodegas/wineries ourselves. I still havent been converted to wine but at least I know a little more now. Great day followed by a great night. We headed to a club with the guys who work in our hostel and got up at 3pm today. The banter with the girls from home is great and for the first time I was envious about travelling in a group as opposed to going it alone.

Dolovan, Gaimen, Trelew

Had the strangest day yesterday. Still on my Welsh mission, I got the bus an hour to Trelew. There are no tourists and therefore no hostels, so I had to book into a cheap hotel. It was without a doubt the most disgusting place Ive ever stayed. The light in the bathroom didn´t work although it was probably just as well, as there were exposed wires everywhere. Worst of all, it was triple what Id been paying in my fancy hostels. On the plus side, it was nice to get off the backpacker route for the first time.

Took another bus to Dolovan, a supposed Welsh settlement. There was nothing there and nobody speaking Welsh. I organised a taxi to take me in search of anything Welsh. It turns out there are a multitude of Welsh chapels around the countryside surrounding the town so off we went. The house nearest each chapel keeps the key and if you pay them some pesos, the owner will let you go in and take photos. Having seen three, and with the ´donations´and the taxi metre running I decided to call it a day in Dolovan.

I took a bus to Gaimen where I found the first house of the Welsh settlers, the Welsh museum, and another chapel. I then had afternoon tea in a Welsh tea house. Finally I felt like I was getting somewhere. Ten minutes before I was supposed to get the bus, I hit the jackpot. I foound the local musical school, where the director was Welsh and she was married to a Portugese man who is in charge of tourism and the local Welsh festival every year. I got their email for Ogmore. Took a bus back to Trelew and just made a quick stop at another Welsh museum and the local Welsh interpretation centre. Mission accomplished.

Not wanting to spend even a minute in my hotel room, I knocked on the door of an English guy staying in the hotel. Im such a stalker. I saw his details in the hotel register. Anyway, I think he was glad of the company so we went out for a drink.

Puerto Valdes

Today went on a tour to Puerto Valdes which is a Unesco site for wildlife. Unfortunately, the penguins, the orcas, the whales, the elephant seals and dolphins have migrated. However we did see seals and sealions. Unfortunately there is no discount in the off season despite the lackage of animals. It wasn´t really worth the money but howandever.

After the tour, hitched a ride (I wasn´t doing that walk again) to the Welsh museum. It was very interesting and a little embarrasing when they actually tried to speak to me in Welsh. Ive left a note for Ogmore in the visitor book which hopefully he´ll get to read himself one day when he tours here with the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir.

Just got an email from Brownyn who is already in Mendoza so I have had to change all my plans. Was supposed to be going to Bariloche tomorrow night but unfortunately am now going to have to skip it and haul my ass north in order to see Browyn.